Unfortunately the time has come to make some unpopular and painful decisions.......Decisions that will make many members of the faithful howl with displeasure.
Sorry to regurgitate the same old cliches but its time "cut to the bone" and "take a few steps backwards before we can go forward"
RETIRE
1 Bowden
2 Johnson
3 Simmonds
4 Brown
5 Richardson-Thanks for the wonderful memories Richo....but you playing in 2010 is just wall paper over the cracks.
DELIST
6 Schultz
7 King
8 Polak
9 Pettifer
10 JON.
As Stripes has only allowed 10 players to be retired/traded/delisted I will include a new category
PLAYERS EXTREMELY LUCKY TO STAY ON LIST
*Hughes
*McMahon
*Raines
* Cogs-we are betting on the wrong horse if we think someone who has had 2 knees and almost 3 years out can take us forward.(sorry)
* Hislop
I know many of us will be upset about Richo so I will make one final point.
How many Essendon supporters are still crying over the retirement of James Hird.......Not many I would imagine....they just go to the football each week and watch their exciting young team play.SOUNDS GOOD TO ME.
Not really sure why you would say Richo?? He is by far still our best player, he maybe our oldest player but still has a lot of good football left in him. Don't just get rid of players just for the sake of it. It's not about us moving on as a club but it's about having the best players on our list regardless of how old they are or what they have done for our club to this point. Granted we need an influx of good kids into our club but Richo will not only come back this year and play well but will play next year and play well then too.
Did i mention how much i love Richo!
Big Tone...I do have some internal conflict when it comes to Richo.
The emotional and sentimental part of my brain wants Matthew to play for as long as he wants.If ever a player deserved to play 300 games and have one last crack at playing finals....its Richo.
The Intellectual part of my brain believes that finals success wont be seen during the next year or two....so the sooner we can develop a team thats not reliant on an ageing superstar (Richo) the better.
No doubt Richmond will be a better team in 2010 if Richo plays.....I just believe we will be a better team in 2012/13/14 if he retires at the end of this year.
Anyhow regardless at what you or I believe ....I think we can both agree that Richos fate is in the hands of the 2010 coach.